by Robert Lacey
First published 1985
Henry VIII ascends the throne amid celebration from his subjects. The young monarch appears handsome and generous, completely unlike his cautious and mistrustful father. Henry wastes no time creating Europe's most vibrant and lavish court. Behind this dazzling facade lurks an volatile and brutally merciless ruler whose true character emerges as his reign unfolds. Henry's frantic quest to produce a legitimate son drives him to wed six different women. He declares himself Supreme Head of the English Church while wielding absolute power over the State. Anyone who opposes him or disappoints his expectations faces destruction or abandonment. The king's obsession with securing his dynasty transforms him from a promising young ruler into a monarch who destroys lives without hesitation.
Genres: biography, historical-fiction, 20th-century, 21st-century
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: power-dynamics, rise-and-fall
Setting: England
Period: 16th Century
224 pages · Paperback · Weidenfeld & Nicolson
Content warnings: violence